§ Mr. WillettsTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many compensation payments were made to members of the public by his Department and its agencies in each year since 1997–98, broken down by(a)amount paid and (b)reason for payment. [172896]
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§ Mr. PondThe Department for Work and Pensions operates a discretionary, non-statutory scheme providing financial redress for maladministration. Since 1997
(a)Amount of financial redress authorised by category 1997–98 to 2002–03 £000 Type of payment 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 Loss of Statutory Entitlement 2,124 1,813 1,748 2,035 2,219 4,039 Actual Financial Loss 1,400 4,215 2,700 2,290 2,172 1,660 Compensation for Delay 1,938 1,541 4,112 5,769 6,537 2,575 Consolatory 110 664 575 758 835 773
(b)Number of payments authorised by category 1997–98 to 2002–03 Type of payment 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 Loss of Statutory Entitlement 3,080 1,882 1,660 3,233 2,912 2,764 Actual Financial Loss 4,741 8,782 8,143 7,199 8,243 7,607 Compensation for Delay 5,371 6,347 220,418 6,646 39,620 10,955 Consolatory 497 4,645 5,211 7,553 9,811 9,725 1.The Department for Work and Pensions was formed in June 2001. Figures for earlier years relate to the former Department of Social Security. 2.Figures for amounts paid are rounded to the nearest thousand. 3.Loss of statutory entitlement may occur where an individual has lost benefit or some other entitlement as a result of official error. 4.Payments in respect of actual financial loss are made to recompense individuals who have suffered some financial loss or incurred expenses or as a direct result of maladministration. 5.Payments for delay are made in the form of interest and are intended to restore the value of payments that have been excessively or unreasonably delayed. 6.Consolatory payments are made where individuals have suffered gross inconvenience, gross embarrassment or severe distress in consequence of maladministration.